Hymn-lovers are putting their money where their mouth is, as St. Michael and All Angels Church prepares to sing the entire New English Hymnal this weekend to raise money for an organ and new meeting rooms. The hymn which raises the most money in sponsorship will be sung as the Hymnathon’s grand finale on Saturday evening.

Over £23,000 has been pledged by more than 300 individual sponsors, as they try to ensure that their favourite hymn is No 1 by the time the music stops. Last night, there was a new leader at the top of the chart.

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer – which has been No 1 for almost two weeks - was overtaken by O Praise Ye The Lord, which has raised £624 on its own so far. The full Top Ten is on the website. Organisers hope that hymn-lovers will pledge more money online (http://www.justgiving.com/smaaahymnathon ) and in the church as the Hymnathon goes on.It will begin at noon tomorrow,Friday February 24th and run through the night till at least 7pm on Saturday 25th.

“We’re delighted with the response so far, but we’re going to be singing for more than 30 hours between us and we hope a lot more money will come in during that time” says Oliver West, who will be playing the organ for much of the time. “We also hope that many people will come and sing as well – everyone is welcome for as long as they like, at any time of day or night!”

Local choirs will be joining St Michael’s own choir and congregation, including singers from the famous ArtsEd performing arts college, over the road from the church. ArtsEd also took part 25 years ago, when St Michael’s last performed the feat. “ We joined them for the first hymnathon in 1987 and a quarter of a century later it is a privilege for our students to help launch the 2012 version” said Jane Harrison, the principal of ArtsEd.

The vicar of St Michael & All Angels, Father Kevin Morris, says: “We think this is a wonderful way to get the whole community involved in our new Organ and Parish Rooms Appeal, which we hope will bring benefits back to the whole communit y ."